Cultural Life: Alan Davies, comedian

(PA)

Television: 'The Apprentice'. Never miss it. The most screamingly funny show this century. Just the sight of Lord Sugar, the midget deity, descending in a glass lift has me in stitches. Also I am working my way through the box set of the incomparable 'West Wing'. Well into season six now with Alison Janney stealing the show as CJ.

Films: I wilfully expected little of 'Running With Scissors', the adaptation of Augusten Burrough's hilarious, bittersweet memoir, but was delighted to find it is subtle, drily witty, and smart, with outstanding acting, especially fromAnnette Bening as Augusten's mother.

Music: At the moment, whatever our one-year-old doesn't object to. Fortunately, she has catholic tastes ranging from "Ob-La-Di-Ob-La-Da" by TheBeatles via "Back & Forth" by Aaliyah, all the way to her number one fave "Run Rabbit" by Flanagan & Allen.

Theatre: I don't get out much and haven't been to the Almeida for a while, where I was becoming a regular, but I went to see Sheridan Smith give a spectacular matinee performance in 'Legally Blonde'. Reese Witherspoon is good in the movie but she's no Sheridan. Followed it up the same day by seeing Bill Bailey at Wyndham's Theatre and a late supper with the bearded loon. Good times.

Books: In Puerto Banus,on the Costa del Sol, is an English bookshop run by an Italian lady who will recommend a book if she sees you browsing. I wasdirected to the compelling 'City of Thieves' by David Benioff, a story from his own Grandfather's memories of the besieged city of Leningrad in WW2. If you haven't read 'Outliers' by Malcolm Gladwell yet, do so.

Alan Davies is a judge on ITV's 'Show Me The Funny', which starts on Monday at 9pm, with the live final on 25 August (itv.com/showmethefunny)